The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1887-08-18
A QUEER WILL.

A QUEER WILL.
As far as position was concerned
Fred Wylie was the picture of comfort.
but one look at his open face would
show You that he was the reverse of
comfortable in mind.
His clear honest eyes were dark, his
brow gloomy, and the corners of his
mouth had a downward curve; altogeth-
or he was as perturbed in his mind as
any healthy young fellow with clear
conscience could possibly be.
Il must confess l was never more
dumbfoundcd in my Iife!'' he was say
ing to himself, as, with his feet ele-
waited to the proper angle and an un-
lighted cigar in his hand. he was gaz-
ing out of the window, not seeing any
Of the busy throng below him. but try
ing to settle something which sadly
worried him.
.Mr. Allison was always friendly to
me. and encouraged my visits to
Maude; why he should have made such
strange will cannot for the life of
meunderstand.if were sure she would
neverregret it, would let Mr.. Allison's
money 60. and marry Maude without
penny-provided she'd have me. that
is"
As he spoke he arose and began to
search for match wherewith to
light his cigar. but to his vexation
there wasn't one in his pockets or any
where in the room.
.Oh. bother! I've got to get light
rom the hall gas"
But there happened not to be wisp
Of refuse paper convenient. ST he
opened an old secretary which stood in
one corner of the room. He was board
ing with Maude Allison's aunt. in the
house where Maude and her father had
lived up to the time of his death. and
this secretary. as well rs most of the
furniture iii the room. had been used
BY Mr.. Allison in his lifetime. In this
secretary was an odd tumble Of clean
paper, letters new and old. scraps of
newspaper clippings, etc.
Evidently the owner was not a
methodical old gentleman.
After some rummaging he came up
on scrap which was not too valuable
to be used as cigar-lighter; but just
as he was about to use it. he espied his
lady-love on the opposite side Of the
street. where she seemed about to cali
on some mutual friends who lived
there.
Of course he forgot all about his
cigar. and selling his hat went to call
on these same friends.
..Mduae.'' said he. when. little
later, they We're on their way to
Maude's home-she was living with
her guardian. Andrew Cra.ie, and his
mother and sisters '.Maude. has Mr..
Cragie ever said an, hing to you Of the
terms Of your fathers w'll?'
'.Never until to-day, Fred she
answered.
What did he say then?"
liz ulu IiOt Jul I'll.
Fred, he gave me such a strange letter
-onc which papa had left in his care
for me, to be given to me at any time
when Mr. Cragie saw fit, before | was
twenty-one. Why it was given to me
now am sure do not understand"
What was it?'
Here it is. Read it for Yourself.
brought it with me to show to Mrs.
Leonard. and get her advice. but she
was not at home.'
Fred took the letter which Maude
: handed him. and read ii with much in
terest.
1t was written on an almost square
sheet of paper, of an odd blush tinge,
and, after an unimportant prelude,
said:
ANY girl. my dear daughter, i
liable to be sought in marriage by some
designing fortune-hunter when sue is
possessed of SO large property as
will leave behind me. Therefore, fol
your own future happiness, beqneatt
this money to you oniyon one condition
which is that on your twenty-first birth.
day, or as much earlier az will suit vol
both, you are married 10 my dear
friend '-here Fred turned the page
ANDREW Cragie. | am sure he will
make you a good husband. If you dc
not marry him, but marry some ont
your guardian approves there's nc
telling what may happen-then you
are to have one-half of my property. Il
however, you marry contrary to hi,
wishes, then you are to inherit but one
thousand pounds"
This was the important clause in tn,
letter. Mr.. Allison had so made hi
will that this letter to Maude was to b,
considered part Of it.
Have you seen Mr.. Cragie since h,
gave this to you?" asked Fred.
mo. He sent it to me, sealed, say
ing that he knew its contents, and wa
more than willing to abide by its term
that he should never give his consen
to my marriage with any other man.
Ibid he tell You Of my call on hin
yesterdays
mo. What did you 90 to see hin
for?' asked Maude. innocently.
ITO tell him that / love you, my dar
ling, and to ask his permission to max
aformal proposal for your hand. II
refused my request with scorn, and sal
was only after your money"
.'Ob, Fred. how could he say tina
when he knows that THAT you
mean that papa was fond of you?'
Maude stammered, blushing furiously
..How about papa's daughter?' aske
Fred, earnestly. '.Do you not love m
little?"
Unfortunately they were still in tn
street, SO Fred could not say all he dc
sired. but his tone expressed volumes
lone thousand pounds isn't much
Fred, and you know, young lawyers &c
rich very slowly" was her quee
answer.
However queer it may have sounded
it emboldened Fred to take kiss iron